Twilight Marketing.

In November I took part in the twilight craft market held at the little guy’s kindergarten. This is the only market I did this year and it’s the first one with my handmade things. It was great to be making!

Meet some of my little friends…

…the snoots…

…the birdies…

…and the rosettes.

Hmmm, it feels like the beginnings of something.

Homemade Lampshade.

What with closing the store and my role as chief events organiser for the week of Four there hasn’t been much crafting going on lately. And I am aware that there are three babies I have promised to make quilts for that haven’t been begun! Uh-oh.

This lampshade is the exception. Made for Oscar’s room with the very last scraps of the glorious “Skipping Boy” fabric. As it was a tapered shade, I did the best I could to keep the little boys straight by pleating the shade (small pin tucks at the bottom and wider ones at the top). Raw edges cunningly hidden under that wonderful all purpose bias binging in sky blue gingham.

Bits ‘n’ bobs.

Here’s a little of what life’s been serving us up lately.

Recently in need of a little nostalgia I dug out my grandmother’s enamel pie dish and baked a Jamie Oliver Apple pie, which has seriously the best pastry ever. It’s short, buttery and has this wonderful aroma of lemon (from the inclusion of lemon zest- encompassing without being overpowering). A delightful pie, a little sad that the Greek men in my life have no appreciation of my anglo roots. Translation: I ate most of this myself!

Every girl should have some animal print in their closet. When I wear them, I feel a little Mad Men. Martini anyone?

From the book that started it all- for me that is. Crazy bus toy from the “Make fun stuff! by Aranzi Aronzo” craft book I received from my lovely mother in law for Christmas 3 years ago. Now I know she really does listen to me when I rabbit on (off she trotted to the super cool “genki” store in Flinders Lane and chose this out for me all by herself.) Isn’t she awesome?

This is the book that reawakened the textile junkie in me- repressed from years of new motherhood. This is the book which spawned the bus, the blog and the fabric shop.

Super delicious, you really must try this yummy chorizo soup from Jamie Oliver’s “Dinners” cookbook. It’s been such great soup weather lately- read “super freezy”! Now I hesitated before adding this photo, as it’s not the most appetising looking dish- and then I remembered that I had added a photo of Sheperd’s pie not so long ago. Another dish which tastes a whole lot yummier that it photographs. N’est-ce pas?

I love these photos. Now, a vineyard, some cyclists, a week old calf. Guess where. Rural France? Rural anywhere, right?

No, Collingwood Children’s farm. Only about 3km from the city. It’s quite surreal to feel as though you are somewhere quite rural, to turn around and see the city skyline at “reach out and touch” distance. We were lucky enough to see this beautiful doe eyed calf, born in the same week we visited. There’s a lovely outdoor cafe and we had a lovely al fresco breakfast in the chilly, watery winter sunshine. Resplendent in scarves and beanies.

Some Craft-a-rama.

Got my bike today. I love it I love it I love it. Now I just need a Mike…

…We like our bike. It’s made for three. Our Mike sits up in back you see. We like our Mike and this is why, Mike does all the work when the hills get high!

Read “One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish” to Bubba J tonight and thought “Hey I need one of those!”

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Here’s some of my latest crafty goodness:

So proud! As a self taught- anything I make that is functional and pretty like this dress (with most of the mistakes on the inside so you can’t see!) makes me all chest swelling with pride. It uses Bird and Berry Stripe and Grassy Plains. Both by Kokka and available in the shop.

This one’s a project from Sew Darn Cute by Jenny Ryan- it’s called Snappy Fabric Bracelets. I’ve had terrible trouble applying the snaps though. I got one of those Birch pack from Lincraft with the tool shaped a bit like a set of pliers. Anyway, no matter how careful I was opening and closing the bracelets, the snappers kept separating. Any ideas what I’m doing wrong?

This is one of those rare craft books where I want to make everything in it. The come along once in a while and are just so exciting to own. The pages are full of possibilities. The other one that jumps to mind is Meet me at Mike’s.

Sewing machine cover whipped up one evening. Made it with Cookies by Aunty Cookie (a fabric I could just stare at for hours- these attitude laden bunny girls sit next to me now while I’m sewing. Some tell me I’m doing great, some snigger when I reach for the unpicker.) Hey, my mum was right when she said I’d never be alone again! Only I don’t think she was referring to dolly pictures on fabric. She was referring to the person I had just birthed.

I didn’t realise at the time that she meant it as a threat.

See my pincushion in the foreground? Got it free in Mixtape a while back. Courtesy of Dear Fii. I luv it.

The fete.

Missed a blog yesterday, but I was up until midnight pricing things and organising bits and bobs for the fete, so I’ll make up for it tonight by doing two (I’m very committed!)

The fete turned out to be a bit of fun, here is me looking very proud of myself in front of my wares.

But I got a sunburnt neck, oh well.

So stupid- you can write posts, but it helps if you actually publish them. A bit flighty, but my heart’s in the right place.

Come down, say hi!

Got a stall at the Lady Forster Kinder fete on Sunday. 101 Liardet St Pt Melbourne, 10am-2pm. If you are local and fancy coffee and face painting (for you or your kids!) come down and say hi.

Am so very excited that I have finally put all the fabric on the site, now all the lovelies can be seen and bought by all and I can get crafty guilt free.

This is some of what I have to sell on the weekend – I had a most productive weekend last weekend making before grumpy husband gave me the evil eye about the lack of shop work that was being done (grrr!)

And tomorrow, I’ve promised myself that I will make a few hours to sit quietly and sew. Aaaah, feel relaxed already. (Got to blog a whole hour earlier tonight, yeay!)